University of Virginia Library

Actus quintus.

Scena prima.

Enter Mullisheg, Alcade, Ioffer, and Attendants, &c.
Mullisheg.
Bvt was she of such presence?

Alc.
To decribe her were to make eloquence dumb

Mull.
Well habited?

Alc.
I ne'er beheld a beauty more compleat.

Mull.
Thou hast inflam'd our spirits. In England borne?

Alc.
The Captaine so reported.

Mull.
How her ship?

Alc.
I never saw a braver Vessell saile,
And she is call'd The Negro.

Mull.
Ominous
Perhaps to our good fate, She in a Negro
Hath sail'd thus farre to bosome with a Moore.
But for the motion made to come ashore,
How did she relish that?

Alc.
I promist to the Captaine large reward
To winne him to it, and this day he' hath promist
To bring me her free answer.

Mull.
When he comes
Give him the entertainment of a Prince.
Enter a Moore.
The newes with thee?

Moore.
The Captaine of The Negro craves admittance
Vnto your Highnesse presence.

Mul.
A Guard attend him, and our noblest Bashawes
Conduct him safe where we will parly him.

Flowrish.
Enter Goodlacke, and Roughman.
Goodl.
Long live the high and mighty King of Fesse.

Mull.
If thou bringst her then dost thou bring me life.
Say, will she come?

Goodl.
She will my Lord, but yet conditionally
She may be free from violence.

Mull.
Now by the mighty Prophet we adore,
She shall live Lady of her free desires,
Tis love, not force, must quench our amorous fires.

Rough.
We will conduct her to your presence straight.

Mul.
We will have banquets, revels, and what not
To entertaine this stranger.
Hoboyes.
Enter Besse Bridges vail'd, Goodlack, Roughman, Forset, and Moores.
A goodly presence! why's that beauty vail'd?

Besse.
Long live the King of Fesse.

Mull.
I am amaz'd,
This is no mortall creature I behold,
But some bright Angell that is dropt from heaven,
Sent by our prophet. Captaine, let me thus
Imbrace thee in my armes. Load him with gold
For this great favour.

Bess.
Captaine, touch it not.
Know King of Fesse my followers want no gold,
I onely came to see thee for my pleasure,
And shew thee, what these say thou never saw'st,
A woman borne in England.

Mull.
That English earth may well be term'd a heaven,
That breedes such divine beauties. Make me sure
That thou art mortall, by one friendly touch.

Besse.
Keepe off: for till thou swearst to my demands
I will have no commerce with Mullisheg,
But leave thee as I came.

Mull.
Were't halfe my Kingdome,
That, beautious English Virgin, thou shalt have.

Besse.
Captaine reade.

Goodl.

First, libertie for her and hers to leave the Land
at her pleasure.

Next, safe conduct to and from her ship at her owne
discretion.

Thirdly, to be free from all violence, eyther by the King
or any of his people.

Fourthly, to allow her mariners fresh victuals aboord.

Fiftly, to offer no further violence to her person, then
what hee seekes by kingly usage, and free intreaty.

Mull.
To these I vow and seale.

Besse.
These being assur'd
Your courtship's free, and henceforth we secur'd.

Mull.
Say Gentlemen of England, what's your fashion
And garbe of entertainment?

Goodl.
Our first greeting
Begins still on the lips.

Mul.
Fayre creature, shall I be immortaliz'd
With that high favour?

Besse.
Tis no immodest thing
You aske, nor shame, for Besse to kisse a King.

Mul.
This kisse hath all my vitalls extaside.

Rou.
Captain this king is mightily in love. VVel let her
Doe as she list, Ile make use of his bounty.

Goodl.
We should be mad men else.

Mullish.
Grace me so much as take your seat by me.

Besse.
Ile be so farre commanded.

Mull.
Sweet, your age?

Besse.
Not fully yet seaventeene.

Mu.
But how your birth? how came you to this wealth,
To have such Gentlemen at your command?
And what your cause of travell?

Besse.
Mighty Prince,
If you desire to see me beat my brest,
Poure forth a river of increasing teares,
Then you may urge me to that sad discourse.

Mull.
Not for Mamorrahs wealth, nor all the gold
Coyn'd in rich Barbary. Nay sweet arise,
And aske of me be'it halfe this kingdomes treasure,
And thou art Lady on't.

Besse.
If I shall aske, 'tmust be, you will not give.
Our country breedes no beggers, for our hearts
Are of more noble temper.

Mull.
Sweet, your name?

Besse.
Elizabeth.

Mull.
There's vertue in that name.
The Virgin Queene so famous through the world,
The mighty Empresse of the maiden-Ile,
Whose predecessors have ore-runne great France,
Whose powerfull hand doth still support the Dutch,
And keepes the potent King of Spaine in awe,
Is not she titled so?

Besse.
She is.

Mull.
Hath she her selfe a face so faire as yours
When she appeares for wonder.

Besse.
Mighty Fesse,
You cast a blush upon my maiden cheeke,
To patterne me with her. Why Englands Queene
She is the onely Phœnix of her age,
The pride and glory of the Westerne Isles:
Had I a thousand tongues they all would tyre
And faile me in her true description.

Mull.
Grant me this,
To morrow we supply our Iudgement-seate,
And sentence causes, sit with us in state,
And let your presence beautifie our Throne.

Bess.
In that I am your servant.

Mul.
And we thine.
Set on in state, attendants, and full traine:
But finde to aske, we vow thou shalt obtaine.

Enter Clem, manet Goodlacke.
Clem.
It is not now as when Andrea liv'd,

Or rather Andrew our elder Iourneyman: what, Drawers
become Courtiers? Now may I speake with the old ghost
in Ieronimo;

When this eternall substance of my soule
Did live imprisoned in this wanton flesh,
I was a Courtier in the Court of Fesse.

Goodl.
Oh well done Clem. It is your Mistris pleasure
None come a shore that's not well habited.

Clem.

Nay for mine owne part, I hold my selfe as good
a Christian in these cloaths, as the proudest Infidell of
them all.

Enter Alcade and Ioffer.
Alcade.

Sir, by your leave, y'are of the English traine?

Clem.

I am so thou great Monarch of the Mauritanians.

Ioff.

Thē tis the Kings cōmand we give you al attendance

Clem.

Great Seignior of the Sarazens I thanke thee.

Alc.

Will you walke in to banquet?

Clem.

I will make bold to march in towards your banquet,
and there comfit my selfe, and cast all carawayes
downe my throat, the best way I have to conserve my
selfe in health: and for your countries sake which is called
Barbery, I will love all Barbers and Barberies the better:

And for you Moores, thus much I meane to say,
Ile see if Moore I eate the Moore I may.

Enter two Merchants.
1. Merch.
I pray sir are you of the English traine?

Clem.
Why what art thou my friend?

1 Mer.
Sir, a French merchant runne into relapse,
And forfeit of the Law: heres for you sir
Forty good Barbery peeces to deliver
Your Lady this petition, who I heare
Can all things with the King.

Clem.

Your gold doth binde me to you: you may see
what it is to be a sudden Courtier. I no sooner put my nose
into the Court, but my hand itches for a bribe already.

What's your businesse my friend?

2 Mer.
Some of my men for a little outrage done
Are sentenc'd to the Gallyes.

Clem.
To the Gallowes?

2 Mer.
No, to the Gallies: now could your Lady purchase
Their pardon from the King, heres twenty angels?

Clem.
What are you sir?

2 Merc.
A Florentine Merchant.

Clem.
Then you are, as they say, a Christian?

2 Mer.
Heaven forbid else.

Clem.
I should not have the faith to take your gold else.
Attend on mee, Ile speake in your behalfe.
Where be my Bashawes? vsher us in state, Florish.
And when we fit to banquet see you waite.

Exit.
Enter Spencer solus.
Spenc.
This day the king ascends his royall throne,
The honest Merchant in whose ship I came,
Hath by a cunning quiddit in the Law
Both ship and goods made forfeit to the king,
To whom I will petition. But no more,
Hee's now upon his entrance.

Hoboyes.
Enter the King, Besse, Goodlacke, Roughman, Alcade, Ioffer, with all the other Traine.
Mull.
Here seat thee Maid of England like a Queene,
The style wee'll give thee, wilt thou daigne us love.

Besse.
Blesse me you holy Angels.

Mull.
What ist offends you Sweet?

Spenc.
I am amaz'd, and know not what to thinke on't.

Besse.
Captaine, dost not see? Is not that Spencers ghost?

Goodl.
I see, and like you I am extaside.

Spenc.
If mine eyes mistake not,
That should be Captaine Goodlacke, and that Besse.
But oh, I cannot be so happy.

Goodl.
Tis he, and Ile salute him.

Besse.
Captaine stay,
You shall be swaide by me.

Spenc.
Him I wel know, but how should she come hither

Mull.
What ist that troubles you?

Besse.
Most mighty king,
Spare me no longer time, but to bestow
My Captaine on a message.

Mull.
Thou shalt command my silence, and his eare.

Besse.
Goe winde about, and when you see least eyes
Are fixt on you, single him out and see
If we mistake not. If he be the man,
Give me some private note.

Goodl.
This.

Bess.
Enough. VVhat said you highnesse?

Mull.
Harke what I profer thee, Continue here,
And grant me full fruition of thy love.

Bes.
Good.

Mull.
Thou shalt have all my Peeres to honour thee
Next our great prophet.

Besse.
Well.

Mull.
And when th'art weary of our Sun-burnt clime,
Thy Negro shall be ballast home with gold.

Bess.
I am eterniz'd ever.
Now all you sad disasters dare your worst,
I neither care nor feare: my Spencer lives.

Mull.
You minde me not sweet Virgin.

Besse.
You talke of love.
My Lord, Ile tell you more of that hereafter.
But now to your State-businesse: bid him doe thus
No more, and not be seene till then.

Goodl.
Enough: come sir, you must along with me.

Bess.
Now stood a thousand deaths before my face,
I would not change my cheare, since Spencer's safe.

Enter Clem and the Merchants.
Clem.
By your leave my Masters: roome for Generosity.

1 Merch.
Pray sir remember me.

2 Merch.
Good sir, my suit.

Cl.

I am perfect in both your parts without prompting,
Mistresse, here are two christen friends of mine have forseiter
ships and men to the black a Morrian king. Now one
sweet word from your lips might get their release. I have
had a feeling of the businesse already.

Mul.
For dealing in commodities forbid
Y'are fin'd a thousand duckats.

Besse.
Cast off the burden of your heavy doome,
A follower of my traine petitions for him.

Mull.
One of thy traine, sweet Besse?

Clem.
And no worse man then my selfe sir.

Mull.
Well sirrah, for your Ladies sake,
His ship and goods shall be restor'd againe.

1 Mer.
Long live the King of Fesse.

Clem.

Maist thou never want sweet water to wash thy
blacke face in, most mighty Monarke of Morocco.

Mistris, another friend, I, and paid before hand.

Mull.
Sirrah, your men for outrage and contempt
Are doom'd unto the Gallies.

Bess.
A censure too severe for Christians.
Great King, Ile pay their ransome.

Mul.
Thou my Besse?
Thy word shall be their ransome, th'are discharg'd.
What grave old man is that?

Ioff.
A Christian Preacher, one that would convert
Your Moores, and turne them to a new beliefe.

Mull.
Then he shall die, as wee are king of Fesse.

Bes.
For these I onely spake, for him I kneele,
If I have any grace with mighty Fesse.

Mul.
We can deny thee nothing beautious maid,
A kisse shall be his pardon.

Bes.
Thus I pay't.

Clem.

Must your black face be smooching my Mistresses
white lips with a moorian. I would you had kist her a—

Alc.
Ha, how is that sir?

Clem.
I know what I say sir, I would he had kist her a—

Alcade.
A-what?

Clem.
A thousand times to have done him a pleasure.

Enter Spencer and Goodlacke.
Mull.
That kisse was worth the ransome of a King.
What's he of that brave presence?

Besse.
A Gentleman of England, and my friend,
Doe him some grace for my sake.

Mull.
For thy sake what would not I performe?
Hee shall have grace and honour. Ioffer, goe
And see him gelded to attend on us,
He shall be our chiefe Eunuch.

Besse.
Not for ten worlds. Behold great king I stand
Betwixt him and all danger. Have I found thee?
Ceaze what I have, take both my ship and goods,
Leave nought that's mine unrifled: spare me him.
And have I found my Spencer!

Clem.

Please your Majestie, I see all men are not capable
of honour, what he refuseth, may it please you to bestow
on me.

Mull.
With all my heart. Goe beare him hence Alcade,
Into our Alkedavy, honour him,
And let him taste the razor.

Clem.
There's honour for me.

Alc.
Come follow.

Clem.
No sir, Ile goe before you for mine honour.

Exit.
Spenc.
Oh shew your selfe renowned king the same
Fame blazons you: bestow this Maid on me,
Tis such a gift as kingdomes cannot buy:
She is a president of all true love,
And shall be registred to after times,
That ne'er shall patterne her.

Goodl.
Heard you the story of their constant love.
'Twould move in you compassion.

Rough.
Let not intemperate love sway you bove pitty,
That forraigne nation that ne'er heard your name,
May chronicle your vertues.

Mull.
You have wakend in me an heroick spirit:
Lust shall not conquer vertue. Till this hower
We grac'd thee for thy beauty English woman,
But now we wonder at thy constancy.

Bes.
Oh were you of our faith, Ide sweare great Mullisheg
To be a god on earth. And lives my Spencer?
In troath I thought thee dead.

Spenc.
In hope of thee
I liv'd to gaine both life and libertie.

Enter Clem running.
Clem.

No more of your honour if you love me. Is this
your Moorish preferment to rob a man of his best jewels?

Mul.
Hast thou seene our Alkedavy?

Clem.
Davy doe you call him? he may be call'd shavee
I am sure he hath tickled my currant commodity,
No more your cutting honour if you love me.

Mul.
All your strange fortunes we will heare discourst
And after that your faire espousals grace,
If you can finde a man of your beliefe
To doe that gratefull office.

Spenc.
None more fit
Then this religious and grave Gentleman
Late rescewed from deaths sentence.

Preacher.
None more proud
To doe you that poore service.

Mul.
Noble Englishman,
I cannot fasten bounty to my will,
Worthy thy merit, move some suite to us.

Spencer.
To make you more renown'd great king, and us
The more indebted, theres an Englishman
Hath forfeited his ship for goods uncustom'd.

Mul.
Thy suite is granted ere it be halfe begg'd,
Dispose them at thy pleasure.

Spenc.
Mighty king
We are your Highnesse servants.

Mul.
Come beautious Maid, wee'll see thee crown'd a bride,
At all our pompous banquets these shall waite.
Thy followers and thy servants presse with gold,
And not the mean'st that to thy traine belongs,
But shall approve our bounty. Leade in state,
And wheresoe'er thy fame shall be inroll'd,
The world report thou art a Girle worth gold.